Infrared Imaging to Measure Temperature Changes of the Extremities caused by Cigarette Smoke and Nicotine Gums

Infrared (IR) image sequences and physiological data (heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygenation) were acquired in a well-controlled environment adhering to stringent experimental protocols from several test persons who chewed nicotine gums or smoked cigarettes. Task-optimized digital image processing techniques (registration, segmentation, morphological operations) were implemented in a MATLABtrade-based graphical user interface developed for automatic analysis of the acquired infrared images and automatic generation of finger and palm temperature time plots. We found significant temperature decreases due to vasoconstriction mainly in smokers, and temperature increases due to vasodilation mainly in non-smokers. However, the effects of nicotine on vasomotor control, skin vascularization and temperature via the sympathetic nervous system are difficult to assess and also depend on a subject´s baseline temperature